Safety can

ABSTRACT

A tubular container having an end wall with a removable central portion, the latter having the exposed edge thereof guarded by a liner extending along the wall of the container after the central portion has been removed. The liner may be separable from the container body, and may be folded upon itself, so that the inner face of the liner may extend inward of the exposed edge an extra amount to provide a more effective guard than that incident to the thickness alone of the liner.

United States Patent 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,527,377 9/1970 Colby et al 220/54 Primary Examiner-George T. HallAttorney-Carpenter, Ostis & Lindberg ABSTRACT: A tubular containerhaving an end wall with a removable central portion, the latter havingthe exposed edge thereof guarded by a liner extending along the wall ofthe container after the central portion has been removed. The liner maybe separable from the container body, and may be folded upon itself, sothat the inner face of the liner may extend inward of the exposed edgean extra amount to provide a more effective guard than that incident tothe thickness alone of the liner Patented Dec. 14, 1971 Li? JfififiINVENTOR RlCHARD T. WALTER ATTORNEYS SAFETY CAN This invention relatesto fiberboard or metal containers of the type commonly used for thepackaging of food stuffs and many other articles. A growingtrend in theproduction of these containers has been the provision of an end wall,the central portion of which may readily be detached and removed fromthe remaining portion.

A problem which has arisen in connection with this feature is the dangerof cuts and abrasions to one inserting his hand into the container,caused by the contact with the free, raw edge of the remaining portionof the container end which is exposed after the central portion has beenremoved.

It is an object of this invention to provide a protective structure forshielding or covering the exposed raw edge to prevent such injuries.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision, in a containerof the type described, of a protective structure disposed under the openend of the container and projecting slightly inwardly beyond the rawedge of the container closure which is exposed when the removableportion is detached therefrom.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying fea tures of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the container top closureillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, 4i and 5 are perspective views showing the steps in forming aliner element for the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective view showing the liner element inposition in the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a step in preparing another formofliner element according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the liner element of FIG.7 being inserted into a container body;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another form of liner element insitu in a container, and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a liner element for the embodiment ofFIG. 9.

A safety can having a liner element therein is referred to by thereference numeral is formed from either fiberboard or metal, and hasupper and lower end walls 16 and 17 secured to a container body 18. Endwall 17 has an outer annular flange 19 crimped to a body 18 in the usualfashion and a panel portion 21 detachably connected to the flange 19along a weakened score line 22.

A pull tab 20 permits panel portion 21 to be pulled up and detached fromflange 19 at score line 22. When panel portion 21 is removed, a freeedge 23 of raw metal is exposed. This presents the danger of cuts to thehand of a person upon contact therewith, but for the provision ofstructure which now will be described.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision, in a containerof the type described, of a protective structure disposed under the openend of the container and slightly inwardly beyond the exposed raw edgeof the container closure when the removable portion is detachedtherefrom.

' A liner construction, referred to by reference numeral 25, for theinterior of container body 18 is preferably formed from paper comprisedof a fluted ply and may be made of glazed paper of a liner variety. Theflutes of layer 26 give a certain amount of resiliency and flexibilityto the liner 25.

The liner is formed in such a fashion that any dimension between spacedportions thereof is less than the corresponding dimension between cutline 23. Liner 25 is accordingly out along a line 28 on the fluted ply26, and scored along a line 29 on ply 27. Liner 25 is folded along scoreline 28 to provide a double thickness of liner 25 along the top thereof,as seen in FIG. 5.

When liner 25 is inserted in container body 18, the raw edge 23 isguarded thereby when central panel 21 is removed as seen more clearly inFIG. 6.

In FIG. 7 there is shown another embodiment referred to by referencenumeral 25A. A hot melt adhesive applying head 31 applies a strip of hotmelt 32 to film 27, liner structure 25A being formed into a c Iinder asseen in FIG. 8 and inserted into container body 1 By reason of thedimension of glue strip 32, liner 25A has flutes 26 thereof providingprotection against raw edge 23.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 there is shown another embodiment indicatedby reference numeral 258. In this form spots 33 of hot melt are appliedto ply 27, enabling the liner 258 to be held in place to the interior ofcontainer body 18.

As with the embodiment of FIG. 7,. the dimension of spots 33 and theflutes 26 afford protection against raw edge 23.

It will be seen from the description foregoing that the liner protectsusers from the sharp, raw edge remaining after removal of panel 21. Thestructure shown makes unnecessary expensive moulded protection rings.Moreover, the liner structure has the property of absorbing shock toprotect fragile food items such as potato chips, or the like. the linerhaving both flexibility and resiliency.

I claim:

1. In a protective arrangement for a container having a container bodyand a closure, wherein the closure is characterized by a panel which isremoved to provide a remaining closure portion presenting a raw edgesusceptible of injuring a user:

a. the improvement in said protective arrangement which comprises;

b. a liner for said container body extending along the wall of saidcontainer body and adjacent the lower side of said remaining closureportion;

c. said liner being deformed to present a thickness which is greaterthan the thickness of the material of the liner;

d. said liner being folded upon itself adjacent said remaining closureportion to present a double thickness thereof extending inward of saidraw edge and affording protection upon removal of said closure.

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1. In a protective arrangement for a container having a container bodyand a closure, wherein the closure is characterized by a panel which isremoved to provide a remaining closure portion presenting a raw edgesusceptible of injuring a user: a. the improvement in said protectivearrangement which comprises; b. a liner for said container bodyextending along the wall of said container body and adjacent the lowerside of said remaining closure portion; c. said liner being deformed topresent a thickness which is greater than the thickness of the materialof the liner; d. said liner being folded upon itself adjacent saidremaining closure portion to present a double thickness thereofextending inward of said raw edge and affording protection upon removalof said closure.